Best Amber McDaniel Podcasts (2026)

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Episode 59: Identity After Loss: Grieving Who We Were and Finding Hope in Who We Are in Christ with Jennie Parks and Kristin Hernandez 53:05

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1d ago53:05

53:05

Losing a baby doesn't just break your heart—it can shake your sense of who you are. In this episode, Jennie Parks and Kristin Hernandez discuss the ways miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss often reshape our sense of identity. Together, we reflect on the "before loss" and "after loss" versions of ourselves—the parts we miss, the growth we've se…

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Episode 58: From Longing to Hope: Finding Comfort in Advent as a Bereaved Mom with Brooke Schuelke, Jennie Parks, and Kristin Hernandez 48:35

29d ago48:35

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The Christmas season can feel especially tender for a mom who has lost her baby. In this episode, Brooke Schuelke, Jennie Parks, and Kristin Hernandez talk about walking through Advent—a season of longing and hope. Together, we reflect on how Advent mirrors the experience of grief, the comfort of Emmanuel—God with us, and practical ways to hold bot…

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Episode 57: Grateful and Grieving: Cultivating a thankful heart with Allison Brost 54:55

1M ago54:55

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Finding reasons to be thankful in the middle of suffering isn't easy. In this episode of the Hope Mommies Podcast, Kristin Hernandez is joined by author and Hope Mom Allison Brost to talk about what it looks like to cultivate gratitude. Allison shares the story of her son Solomon, who went to be with the Lord in 2018, and reflects on how her journe…

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Episode 56: Hope For the Girl on the Bathroom Floor: Finding peace in God's sovereignty with Amber Smith 39:06

2M ago39:06

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We've all had those moments on the bathroom floor, overwhelmed by grief—and what a gift that God meets us there. In this episode, we welcome Amber Smith—Hope Mom, speaker, and author of The Girl on the Bathroom Floor: Held Together When Everything is Falling Apart—to share about the sustaining peace of God's presence in the midst of deep sorrow. Am…

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Episode 55: Knowing and Being Known: Marriage, Sex, and Intimacy After Baby Loss with Ryan & Jessica McDaniel 1:04:36

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Kristin Hernandez is joined by Ryan and Jessica McDaniel, licensed professional counselors and founders of McDaniel Counseling, to talk about intimacy, sex, and marriage after the loss of a baby. Drawing from over 15 years of professional counseling experience as well as their own story of loss, Ryan and Jessica offer compassionate, God-centered wi…

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Episode 54: Our Story for His Glory: How our stories of loss can open doors for the gospel with Kristin Jackson 1:05:14

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October 15 is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day—a day of remembrance, but also a day to consider how God can bring eternal impact out of even the shortest lives. In this episode of the Hope Mommies Podcast, host Kristin Hernandez is joined by fellow hope mom Kristin Jackson to talk about the power of our stories and how the Lord can use them …

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Bonus: Wave of Light 2025 50:20

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This special episode features the complete audio from the Hope Mommies 2025 Wave of Light event, adapted slightly for podcast format. Every year on October 15—Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day—families around the world light candles at 7:00 PM local time, creating a continuous "wave of light" and raising awareness for miscarriage, stillbirth,…

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Episode 53: Remembering with Hope: Memorial Stones, Reflecting on God's Faithfulness, and Practical Ideas for Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month with Jennie Parks and Kristin Hernandez 56:45

3M ago56:45

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October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month—a special time to remember and honor our Hope Babies, share our stories, and shine the light of Christ into the darkness. But what is the purpose of remembrance? What does Scripture teach us about it? And how might we remember not only our babies, but also all that God has done for us? In this ep…

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Episode 52: Cherishing Life: Trusting God With a Life-Limiting Diagnosis with Matt and Taylor Walker of Abel Speaks 1:01:00

4M ago1:01:00

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No parent is prepared to hear that their baby's life will likely be far shorter than they imagined. For families walking through a life-limiting diagnosis, pregnancy can become a season of both deep sorrow and deep love. In this episode, Kristin Hernandez is joined by Matt and Taylor Walker, Directors of Family Care at Abel Speaks, to talk about th…

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Episode 51: Parenting Through Loss - Helping little hearts grieve when you're hurting too with Jennie Parks, Julie Lehman, and Kristin Hernandez 1:04:27

4M ago1:04:27

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Grieving the loss of a baby while caring for young children at home can feel overwhelming. In this episode, Kristin Hernandez is joined by Jennie Parks and Julie Lehman to discuss what it looks like to walk through grief while also parenting living children. We talk about tending to our own sorrow while helping children navigate theirs, talking abo…

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Episode 50: Hope for the Hurting Heart and Mind: Living in victory through grief, trauma, and the healing presence of Jesus with Shundria Riddick, MA LPC 53:21

5M ago53:21

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In this episode of the Hope Mommies Podcast, host Kristin Hernandez is joined by licensed professional counselor Shundria Riddick for a heartfelt conversation about trauma, emotions, and what it means to live in victory in Christ—even with tear-filled eyes. Shundria shares the heartbreaking story of losing her daughter Grace and her son Caleb, and …

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Episode 49: Entrusting Our Emotions to Jesus: Grief, Bedrest, and Clinging to Christ through Uncertainty and Difficult Feelings with Courtney Reissig 47:22

5M ago47:22

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How do we face emotions like fear and anger in a way that honors God? And how do we carry the weight of those emotions without letting go of our grip on Christ? In this episode, Kristin sits down with author, Bible teacher, and fellow Hope Mom Courtney Reissig to talk about repeated griefs, high-risk pregnancies, and learning to express deep emotio…

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Episode 48: Cradled in Hope - second trimester loss, God's nearness in grief, and the importance of sound theology with Ashley Opliger 50:40

6M ago50:40

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Host Kristin Hernandez welcomes Ashley Opliger—founder and executive director of Bridget's Cradles—to share how God lovingly draws near in our grief, cradling us in hope as He cradles our babies in heaven. Ashley tells the story of her daughter Bridget, who was stillborn in 2014, and how her loss became the catalyst for a ministry that now provides…

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Episode 47: Lost Gifts - Recurrent Miscarriage and the Treasure of Christ with Brittany Allen 48:15

6M ago48:15

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"In losing my three sweet babies, I was not left empty-handed. God filled my hands with his own nail-pierced hands. He met me in my grief and sat with me in the ashes. He will do this for you, too. You can know him–your suffering Savior. To know him more is to treasure him more. Jesus is not a consolation prize for the loss of your unborn babies.. …

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Episode 46: Praying The Lord's Prayer Through Pregnancy After Loss with Ashlee Schmidt 53:54

7M ago53:54

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Ashlee Schmidt joins Kristin Hernandez for a conversation about drawing near to God in prayer and trusting His love and sovereignty through the journey of pregnancy after loss. Ashlee vulnerably shares her story of losing two babies and navigating the high-risk pregnancy that followed, and how God taught her to lean on Him in the midst of grief, fe…

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Episode 45: Gospel Hope for the Grieving Dad: Embracing Weakness and Finding Comfort in Jesus After Miscarriage, Stillbirth, or Infant Loss with Eric Schumacher 44:50

7M ago44:50

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In this episode, Kristin Hernandez is joined by Eric Schumacher to explore the often-overlooked grief of fathers after the loss of a baby. Eric shares his personal story of fatherhood and loss, the challenges many men face in expressing sorrow, and how cultural expectations can silence grief. Together, they discuss the importance of honest communic…

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Episode 44: Holding Joy and Grief Together: Finding Comfort in God and Community After Twin Loss with Erin Thibodeaux 56:53

8M ago56:53

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Joy and grief often walk hand in hand for Hope Moms. In this episode, Erin Thibodeaux joins Kristin Hernandez to share her motherhood journey—the excitement of expecting twins and the devastating loss of her daughter, Adalyn Layne, who lived just 26 days. Together, they talk about the complexities of grieving one child while raising another, the un…

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Episode 43: Held by God - Finding rest in God's goodness amid the Grief of Miscarriage with Abbey Wedgeworth 59:54

8M ago59:54

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In this tender and theologically rich episode, host Kristin Hernandez is joined by author Abbey Wedgworth to talk about miscarriage, grief, and the unshakable hope we have in Christ. Abbey shares about losing her second baby, the emotional and spiritual wrestling that followed, and how the Lord met her in the midst of her pain. Kristin and Abbey di…

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Episode 42: How Do You Respond? A grieving mother's guide to baby showers, awkward questions and unsolicited advice with Brooke Schuelke, Jennie Parks, and Kristin Hernandez 1:02:44

8M ago1:02:44

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How do you respond when someone asks how many kids you have? Or when a baby shower invite arrives in your inbox? What about the medical advice you didn't ask for or the pressure to "move on"? In this episode, Brooke Schuelke, Jennie Parks, and Kristin Hernandez share personal stories and practical wisdom for navigating the often uncomfortable and u…

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Episode 41: Resurrected Hope with Rachel Lohman - Walking through Holy Week as a Grieving Mom 45:20

9M ago45:20

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Rachel Lohman, author of Miscarried Hope, guides listeners through the events of Holy Week, drawing parallels between a grieving mother's emotions and the emotions experienced by Jesus' disciples. She explains how the stages of expectation, shock, despair, grief, and hope mirror the disciples' journey with Jesus from Palm Sunday to Resurrection Sun…

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Episode 40: Friendship After the Loss of a Baby with Jennie Parks & Kristin Hernandez 1:05:52

9M ago1:05:52

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Friendship after the loss of a baby can feel complicated. In this episode, Kristin Hernandez and Jennie Parks discuss how grief can reshape relationships—deepening some while straining others. They reflect on how their expectations of friendship changed after loss, things they would have done differently, the emotional labor of maintaining connecti…

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Episode 39: Abide Pt 4 - The Joy of Abiding in Christ's Love - Retreat Session 4 32:57

9M ago32:57

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Whether you attended this year's retreat or couldn't join us in person, we invite you to revisit all four teaching sessions with us. This episode is the final installment in our four-part teaching series on John 15:1-9 and features a re-recording of Session 4 from the 2025 Hope Mommies Retreat. In this session, Kristin Hernandez shares about the jo…

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Episode 38: Abide Pt 3 - How do we reconcile verses like John 15:7 with seemingly unanswered prayer? - Retreat Session 3 40:06

10M ago40:06

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Whether you attended this year's retreat or couldn't join us in person, we invite you to revisit all four teaching sessions with us. This episode is the third installment in our four-part teaching series on John 15:1-9 and features a re-recording of Session 3 from the 2025 Hope Mommies Retreat. In this session, Kristin Hernandez explores the contex…

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Episode 37: Abide Pt 2 - Pruning, Purpose, and Abiding in God's Word as a grieving mom - Retreat Session 2 41:27

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Welcome to the second installment of our four-part teaching series on John 15:1-9. This episode contains a re-record of the complete audio from Session 2 of our 2025 Hope Mommies Retreat. Kristin Hernandez explores how pruning–an often uncomfortable process–can lead to spiritual growth and fruitfulness. We dive into how God's Word prunes and cleans…

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Episode 36: Abide Pt 1- Kristin's Story & Finding Rest in Abiding in Jesus, the True Vine - Retreat Session 1 46:32

10M ago46:32

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Welcome to the first installment of our four-part teaching series on John 15:1-9. This episode contains a re-record of the complete audio from Session 1 of our 2025 Hope Mommies Retreat. Kristin Hernandez shares about the context and setting in which Jesus spoke the words of John 15, while also telling her own personal story of loss and striving fo…

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Episode 35: Inheritance of Tears - a Theology of Suffering and the Goodness of God with Jessalyn Hutto 1:03:13

10M ago1:03:13

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In this episode of the Hope Mommies Podcast, host Kristin Hernandez sits down with Jessalyn Hutto, author of An Inheritance of Tears, to explore the grief of pregnancy loss through the lens of scripture and God's sovereignty. They discuss the doctrine of the Fall—how it brought physical brokenness into the world—and the hope found in God's redempti…

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Episode 34: Where Did TJ Go? Walking with kids through the loss of a sibling with Tatum Green 46:20

11M ago46:20

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In this episode, Tatum Green shares the life and legacy of her son, Timothy Jacob "TJ" Green, who was diagnosed with Trisomy 18 and spent 56 miraculous days on earth before going to be with Jesus. Tatum shares about the challenges that arose with guiding her toddler son, Sam, through the diagnosis and loss of his baby brother and about the inspirat…

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Episode 33: Grieving Together: Marriage after the loss of a child with Chris and Kristin Hernandez 50:51

11M ago50:51

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In this episode, Kristin Hernandez sits down with her husband, Chris, to discuss their journey through grief, marriage, and parenting after the loss of their firstborn son, Ethan. They reflect on how they met, their dreams for their family as newlyweds, and the unexpected challenges that arose as they walked through loss and each grieved in differe…

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Episode 32: Hope and Healing for a Broken Heart with Alyson Brown and Kelsi Cole of Foreknown Ministries 1:00:28

12M ago1:00:28

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Alyson Brown and Kelsi Cole were already close friends when they faced the unimaginable heartbreak of losing their precious babies, Cora and Whitson, to stillbirth—just two weeks apart. In this episode, Kristin is joined by Alyson and Kelsi of Foreknown Ministries to talk about reconciling God's goodness with suffering, and whether healing and joy …

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Bonus Q&A with the Hope Mommies Leadership Team: Favorite grief resources, recent Google searches, & more 26:16

12M ago26:16

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In this special bonus Q&A episode, we're answering your listener-submitted questions and covering everything from our favorite grief-related resources to the little joys we're loving right now. Join Kristin Hernandez, Emily Copeland, Sarah Hutchinson, Jennie Parks, Constance Ray, and Brooke Schuelke as we dive into topics ranging from our favorite …

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Episode 31: A Year of Hope: Celebrating our podcast's 1st Birthday with a Behind-the-Scenes Look at The Hope Mommies Podcast 57:24

1y ago57:24

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We're celebrating one year of The Hope Mommies Podcast! In this milestone episode, Kristin Hernandez is joined by some of the Hope Mommies Leadership Team to share the story of how the podcast came to be, discuss our favorite episodes so far, and give a behind-the-scenes look at memorable stories and recording mishaps along the way. We also look ah…

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Episode 30: Christmas Greetings from One Hope Mom to Another 39:29

1y ago39:29

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Christmas morning can feel especially painful when you're missing your baby. There's one less pair of Christmas pajamas to buy, one less pair of eyes lighting up at the sight of gifts beneath the tree. The silence can be deafening. We see you, Hope Mom. We understand the ache of empty arms and a heavy heart. In this special Christmas Day episode, w…

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Episode 29: Hope When the Holidays Feel Hard: A Bereaved Mother's Guide to Christmas After Loss with Jamie Speegle, Julie Lehman, and Paige Meyer 1:03:57

1y ago1:03:57

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The holiday season can be especially challenging when you're grieving the loss of your baby. What was once a time of joy and anticipation may now feel overwhelming and painful. In this episode, Kristin is joined by Jamie Speegle, Julie Lehman, and Paige Meyer to share their personal experiences of spending their first Christmas without their Hope B…

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Episode 28: Advent Rest after Pregnancy and Infant Loss with Megan Coker 57:38

1y ago57:38

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The holidays remind us of all the things we hoped would be different by now. For prayers to be answered, For ultrasounds to bring good news; For wombs and cribs to be filled, For silent nights to be anything but silent, For things to go back to "normal." We can feel worn out from trying to hold on to hope in the aftermath of pregnancy and infant lo…

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Interview with Lourdes Negron-McDaniel 27:02

1y ago27:02

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Join us for an enlightening and uplifiting conversation as we talk with Lourdes Negron-McDaniel, Director of the Inclusion & Culture team at Nationwide Children's Hospital! We learn about the work that her team is doing throughout the organization and the impact they have on helping our employees engage and experience a sense of belonging.…

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Episode 27: Waiting In Hope with Jenn Hesse, Kelley Ramsey, and Jaclyn Toscas - Infertility, miscarriage, and finding purpose in seasons of waiting 1:00:17

1y ago1:00:17

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Waiting can often feel discouraging and isolating. But is there value in these seasons of waiting? What does it mean to wait with hope, and where can we find that hope? In this episode, Kristin Hernandez is joined by Kelley Ramsey, Jen Hesse, and Jaclyn Toscas from Waiting in Hope Infertility Ministries to explore what it truly means to wait in hop…

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Bonus: Hope Mommies Year in Review 2024 7:57

1y ago7:57

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Join us for an audio format of Hope Mommies' 2024 Annual Review. Losing a baby comes with so many complicated emotions and feelings. Grieving without God is a hopeless pursuit. We want Hope Moms to know their baby's death is not their fault, it wasn't a failing of their bodies or a lack of their faith. Our desire is for these women to filter life t…

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Episode 26: "God must have needed another angel" and other untrue "Christian cliches" 55:15

1y ago55:15

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In today's episode, Brooke Schuelke, Jennie Parks, and Kristin Hernandez shine light on several untrue phrases that often circulate within Christian communities. Our hope for this episode is not to shame, but rather to lovingly equip Hope Moms and those who love them with truth that lasts and truth that comforts. We discuss the phrases… "God must h…

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New Employee Orientation with Amber Luna & Kerri Spence 27:09

1y ago27:09

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A huge HR change in 2024 has been to the New Employee Orientation & Onboarding process! In this episode we sit down with Amber Luna & Kerri Spence with the Organizational Development team to learn all about the large undertaking this change was, the wide array of partners that it took across the organization to make it happen and what the entire te…

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Episode 25: Wave of Light 2024 - Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance event 33:28

1y ago33:28

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"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." John 1:5 Darkness takes on a new meaning when our babies die. It's a place of sadness, tears, and heartache, but it's in the darkness that Christ's light can shine brightest. When we choose to turn to Him in grief, He will faithfully lead us to joy, peace, hope, and abundant …

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Episode 24: Hope in the Mourning with Kristen Ironside - Carrying a child to term after a life-limiting diagnosis, surrendering to God's will, and supporting grieving friends 48:38

1+ y ago48:38

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"What I want most for them is for their lives to be used by God for his glory and to point others to Jesus. And I think: Wow, God has done that with Annabelle's life. And it's not about me sitting here sharing on a podcast or putting her story in a book…I saw Him doing the work on day one of that diagnosis, when I was lonely and afraid in the dark …

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One Team Culture Coach Program with Jamie Welsh 18:10

1+ y ago18:10

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Our One Team culture is the heartbeat of our organization and Culture Coaches are a key part of keeping it strong. Join us as we talk with Jamie Welsh in Organizational Development to learn about the Culture Coach program and the impact it's making all across Nationwide Children's Hospital!

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Episode 23: Retreat Stories with Brooke Schuelke, Emily Copeland, Jennie Parks, Kristin Hernandez, and Sarah Hutchinson 58:30

1+ y ago58:30

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Hope Mommies' Annual Retreat is just that–a retreat from the everyday battle of busyness and heartache and adjusting to your "new normal" as a Hope Mom. It is a unique week of sharing stories, worshiping the Lord together, and listening to Biblical teaching as we look to God's word to illuminate our sorrows and point us to Jesus, the only hope we h…

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Episode 22: The Grief of a Grandparent with Bonnie Klein, Marie Donley, and Rene De La Cruz 52:10

1+ y ago52:10

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Grief can feel especially complex for Hope Grandparents as they mourn the loss of a precious grandchild while carrying the heartache of their own son or daughter. In this episode, Bonnie Klein (mother of Sarah Hutchinson), Marie Donley (mother of Jennie Parks), and Rene De La Cruz (father of Kristin Hernandez) join the podcast to discuss the unique…

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Employee Engagement with Kimberly Cromwell Part Two 16:12

1+ y ago16:12

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We had an exciting discussion with the Director of Organizational Development, Kimberly Cromwell, all about the Employee Engagement Survey that the hospital conducts every two years! In the previous episode Part One, we dive into what the survey is and why it's important for employees to participate in the survey. In this episode in Part Two, we di…

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Employee Engagement with Kimberly Cromwell Part One 16:53

1+ y ago16:53

16:53

We had an exciting discussion with the Director of Organizational Development, Kimberly Cromwell, all about the Employee Engagement Survey that the hospital conducts every two years! In this episode in Part One, we dive into what the survey is and why it's important for employees to participate in the survey. In the next episode in Part Two, we dis…

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Episode 21: Learning to Lament with Shannon Owen 43:11

1+ y ago43:11

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In this episode of the Hope Mommies Podcast, Kristin Hernandez is joined by Hope Mom and licensed professional counselor associate, Shannon Owen, to discuss the practice of lament as a powerful tool in processing grief. Shannon shares her personal experiences with suffering, including an ectopic pregnancy and raising a child with a rare genetic phy…

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Episode 20: If Even the Sparrow Finds a Home with Katie Cobbs - Worshipping God in Grief and Writing "Sparrow Song" 36:10

1+ y ago36:10

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In this episode, Kristin Hernandez is joined by Katie Cobbs, the voice behind 'Sparrow Song,' to discuss what it looks like to worship through seasons of grief and suffering. We talk about what it means to worship, the various forms worship can take, and the way our grief can result in worship to the Lord. Katie also gives a behind-the-scenes look …

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Episode 19: Milestones and Birthdays with Kristin Jackson, Sara Paradoski, Megan Thivierge, and Kristin Hernandez 1:00:46

1+ y ago1:00:46

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Kristin Hernandez is joined by Sara Paradoski, Kristin Jackson, and Megan Thivierge to discuss important dates in our Hope Babies' stories, such as birthdays, due dates, and diagnosis days. They discuss dates that have been the most difficult, how moms can prepare their hearts for these milestones, ideas for making those days special, and tips for …

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Episode 18: Creating Community After Loss with Sarah Klein Hutchinson - Sarah's Story and the importance of connection 39:18

1+ y ago39:18

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Kristin Hernandez is joined by Sarah Klein Hutchinson, Community Director for Hope Mommies, to talk about the importance of community in grief. Sarah shares her story of losing two daughters, Eisley and Ava, and how she found solace and support in the Hope Mommies community. Sarah shares how other grieving women can find support through social medi…